The ‘Psycho Teddy’ mobile phone ringtone and animation feature a cartoon teddy bear that begins cute and cuddly but becomes bad and dangerous when it has a psychotic episode. Promotional material explained that the bear was insane and that sending it a text at the wrong time might trigger a psychotic episode.

This ringtone was available through Optus, Telstra, 3 Mobile and Vodafone.
 
StigmaWatch contacted each network service provider to pass on community feedback. Customers explained the character, animation and lyrics mock mental illness and imply all psychotic episodes involve violence, which could encourage fear and discrimination. 

StigmaWatch urged all networks to take this disadvantaged group into consideration and cease providing the Psycho Teddy ringtone.

3 Mobile responded promptly and ceased promoting the ringtone. Telstra acted quickly and no longer offers the ringtone.